Road drag and leveler.



A. c. BOWEN. new DRAG AND LEVELER.'

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZS 1917. 1,267,623. Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. s

A. C. BOWEN.

ROAD DRAG AND LEVELER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25. pan.

1,267,623. 5; Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I

ALPHEVUS c. BOWELLOF nEs MOINES, IOWA.

30A]; DRAG AND LnvELEn.

My invention relates to road machines for dragging and leveling roads.

The ob ect of my 1nvent1on is to provide a road drag and leveler havinga supporting frame mounted on wheels, and having sec-' tions operativelyconnected with saidframe, the entire device being particularly adaptedto be operated by meansof a tractor.

Still a further object is to provide such a device having aremovabledraw bar member operatively connected with some of the sections of thedrag and leveler in such manner that when the draw bar' is in'itsforward position, the drag sections connected there-' with will be inproper position for dragging and leveling the road, whereas when thedraw bar is moved to its rearwardposition of movement, said sectionswill be swung inwardly tire width of the machine.

Still a further object is to provide such a device having the draw barand some of the sections so connected that when the draw bar is at itsrearward position, theforward end of the drag sections connectedtherewith will be raised above the ground on which the machine istraveling.

till a further object isto provide such a machine having means, wherebythe draw bar may be locked in a variety of its'sliding positions forthereby regulating the positions of the drag sections connected withsuch draw ban. Q

- Still a further object is to provide such a. device having a rear dragmember so 'mounted as to be automatically raised when the draw bar ismoved to the rearward limit of its movement.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, ar rangement, and combination of thevarious parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth pointed out in my claims, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed June 25, 1917. Serial No.'176,891.

and forwardly for reducing the en- Patented Ma 28.1915.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

1 Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a road dragand leveler embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of the same,- the dottedlines showing the parts in adjusted positions. w

' Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken on the Fig. 4 shows a vertical,sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 shows a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2,the drag member shown being illustrated in side elevation. Y I Myimproved drag comprises a frame supported on wheels.

In the accompanying drawings,'I-have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate generally a downwardly opening channel,

forming a frame member extending fore and-aft through the'centralpart ofthe machine. I

Secured to eachside of the frame member 10 is an angle bar 11, whichextends upwardly above the frame member 10, and has at its upper end aninwardly extending,

flange, as shown in Fig. 3.

Suitably mounted below the: frame member 10'between the wheel 12.

Supported on the frame members 11 and 10, near the forward ends thereofis aplatform13. Mounted on the platform 13 are downwardly extending arms14: on which are mounted supporting wheels 15; The'wheels endsthereo-fzis a caster:

15 are spaced from each other on opposite if sides of the frame member10.

Iprovide a draw bar 16 having the form; of a T-iron with oppositeflanges received in the guide-way formed between the frame members 10and 11, as illustrated in Fig.

The upwardly extending flange of the draw bar has a plurality of spacedopenings 17,

the function of which will behereinafteri referred to.

-Spaced: from the rear end of the draw.

bar is an upwardly extending pin,:18,'on whichare pivotally mounted twoslide bars 19. Each of the slide bars is provided with alongitudinally*arrangedSlot-Zl. A pin 22:

extends upwardly from the platform 13 on opposite sides of the draw barand through one of the slots 21, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Itwill be seen that by sliding the draw bar rearwardly or forwardly, theyslide and move pivotally on the pins 22 from their position shown byfull lines in Fig. 2 to their position shown by dotted lines in saidfigure and vice versa.

The upwardly extending flange on the draw bar is provided with a slot 23located in front of the pin 18 for receiving the corners of the slidebars for permitting them to approach more closely to each other when thedraw bar is moved to its rearward position.

' 1 preferably connect with each slide bar a drag member as in themanner now to be described.

Eachdrag member preferably comprises a pair of spaced angle irons 2%,each arranged with one downwardly extending flange, and having at itsupper end a rearwardly ext-ending flange.

Pivoted to each of the horizontal rearwardly extending flanges of eachdrag membet is a downwardly extending arm of a downwardly openingLl-shaped connecting bar 25. I preferably use three of the connectingbars 25 on each of the bracket members connected with the draw bar.

Pivotally connected in a similar way with the angle-irons of each of thebracket members now described, adjacent to one of the connecting bars 25is an additional connect ing bar 26, extending higher than the adjacentconnecting bar 25.

Pivoted to each connecting bar 26 is a lever 27 having its lower endpivoted to the adjacent bar 25 and having a pawl 28 adapted to coactwith a sector 29 on the said adjacent connecting bar 25. The lever 27may be used for varying the angles of the downwardlyextending flanges ofthedrag members with relation to the ground over which the machine istraveling.

The drag members now being described are preferably, when in use,normally ar ranged in the machine as shown in Fig. 2 on opposite sidesof the frame members 10 and extending from their inner ends laterallyand forwardly. The inner rear end of each of the drag members, now underconsideration, has its forward angle-iron 24-.

pivoted to a link 29 extending laterally and upwardly and pivoted to theframe member 10, and is alsopivoted to a link 30 extending upwardly andforwardly and pivoted to the platform 13.

The outer end of each of said drag members, hereinbefore described. isconnected with the outer end of one of the slide bars 19 by a suitabledevice such for instance, the cable 31. The parts hereinbefore describedare so arranged that when the slide bars 19 are in horizontal positiontransversely of the machine, the drag members will be dragged on theground for dragging and leveling the same, and will stand insubstantially the positions shown in Fig. 2. Extending forwardly fromthe main frame adjacent to the inner ends of the slide bars 19 arebrackets 32 designed to receive a locking pin 33, which pin may be alsoselectively extended through one of the openings 17 in the draw bar.

Secured to the forward ends of the brackets 82 are fastening members 3%,to which are secured ropes 35 or other flexible devices. Each rope 35 isextended around a pulley 36. and through a guide 37 on one of the slidebars 19, and is thence extended upwardly toward the outer end of saidslide bar and around the pulley 39, around the upper end of the slidebar, and thence to an eyebolt 4. 0. swiveled on a bracket %1 at theouter end of the adjacent drag member. The parts just described are soarranged that when the draw bar is shoved rearwardly, thereby rotatingand sliding the slide bars on the pins 22, said slide bars will be movedto their position shown in Fig. 2.

The cables 35 are so arranged that when the parts are in their operativeposition, shown by full lines in Fig. 2, there is some slack in saidcables. When, however, the parts are moved to their position shown bydotted lines in said figure, the posit-ion of the pulley 36 withrelation to the fastening device 84 is such that each cable 35 istightened, so that when the outer end of the bracket member connectedwith each cable is at its forward position of movement, it will beslightly lifted above the ground.

At the rear part of the machine behind the caster wheel 12 is third dragmember adapted to travel'in a path overlapping the ends of the pathstraveled by the drag members, already described. The third d ag membercomprises angle irons ar similar in general construction to the dragmembers 2 i The drag members 24 are connected near their ends bydownwardly opening U- shaped connecting bars 4:2, similar to the barsand similarly pivoted to the respective drag members 24.

Adjacent to one of the connecting bars :2 is a somewhat lower connectingbar A lever 27 similar to that alreadydescribed is operatively connectedwith'the adjacent connecting bars t2 and t and has a pawl to coact witha sector 29 similar to that already mentioned. The forward member 2% ispivoted to links 4% rearwardly and upwardly and toward each other in themachine, and pivoted at their forward ends on the frame member 10.

Pivoted at their ends to therespective drag members 2% is a pair ofdownwardly, opening U-shaped connecting bars d5. Condrag nected with thecentral portion of eachbar 45 is an upwardly extending, arm ;46.

On the frame members lla'are a pairof alined bearings 47, in Whichismounted a rock shaft 48 having at its endslaterally ex tending arms 49,the rear ends of which are pivoted to the respective arms 46. I

On the central portion of the shaft 48 be tween the brackets 47 is adownwardly extending engaging arm 50, extending'through a suitable slot51in the central portion of the rear end of the member 10 in suchposition as to be engaged by the rear end of the draw bar when the drawbaris moved to its rearward limit of movement, for thereby rocking theshaft 48 for raising the arms 49 and 46 and lift the third drag member,which I is located as shown,-rearward1y of'the first with relation tothe machine.

two described drag member's.

In the practical operation of my improved drag and leveler, the partsare assembled in the position shown by full lines in Fig; 2, with theexception that the locking pin 33 may or may not be omitted as isdesired.

On the platform 13 are stop devices 52 for engaging the rear edges ofthe slide bars 19, and spaced outwardly from the pins 22, as shown inFig. 2, for preventing the forward movement of the draw bar 16 withrelation to the frame of the machine beyond a certain predeterminedpoint.

The entire device is designed to be used with a tractor and whenthemachineapproaches a bridge or a gate or other passage where it isdesirable to reduce the width of the machine, the tractor simply backsup thereby forcing the draw bar 16 rearwardly The rearward movementofthe draw bar swings the inner ends of the slide bars 19 rearwardlyuntil the slide bars assume the position shown by dotted lines in Fig.2.The outer ends of the slide bars and the outer drag members are swungforwardly and inwardly, and the forward ends of the outer drag membersare raised slightly by means of the cables 35. The rear end of the drawbar, in the rearward movement of such draw bar strikes the arm 50forcing the same rearwardlyand upwardly to its position shown by dottedlines in Fig. 5, thereby raising; the rear, central drag member off"the" ground. The entire device is then in position to be drawn across abridge, or through agate, and the weight of the machine is carried bythe wheels with practically no retardation of the progress of themachine by the drags. It will be seen that when the machine is in theposition last described, the outer drag members travel almost like sledrunners.

It should be understood in this connection that when the draw bar ismoved to its rearward position of movement, the pin 33 is insertedthrough the members 32 and through one of the holes 17, preventing theforward,

relative, sliding movement of the draw bar until it is desiredtohave themachine spread out. again. I d When' the machine is on the road readyfor work again, the pin 33 is removed and the forward movement of thetractor moves the drag and leveler parts to their operative positions. v

The pin 33 need not be used while the machine is being drawn forwardlyin dragging and leveling a road or the like.

The angles of the outer drag members may be regulated for giving them avariety of positions by selectively extending the pin 33 throughdifferent holes 17.

The positions of the members 24 and 2a" may be regulated by means of theleveler 27. It will be understood that some changes may be made in theconstruction, andarrangement of the parts of my improved drag andleveler without departing from the es-' sential features and purposes ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my present applicationany such; modifications in structure or use of mechanical equivalents,as may be reasonably included within the'scope of the claims of thepatent to be issued upon my application."

I claim as my invention: l. Ina device of the class described, a framesupported on wheels, a draw bar slidably mounted for fore-and-aftmovement on the frame, slide barsmounted onsaid frame between their endsfor pivotal and sliding movement, the inner endsiof SiLlCl'SlldQ barsbeing pivotally connected with said draw bar, and ground working membershaving their outer ends operatively connected with the other ends ofsaid slidevbars whereby when a source of power hitched to said drawbaris moved rearwardly, said draw bar is shd rearwardly, the outer ends ofsaid ground working members will be drawn forwardly and inwardly.

2-. In a device of the class described, a

frame supported on wheels, a draw barslid-v ablymounted for fore-and-aftmovement on the frame, slide. bars mounted on said frame between theirends. for pivotal and sliding movement, the inner ends of said slidebars being pivotally. connected with said draw bar, ground workingmembers having their outer ends operatively connected with the fouterends of said slide bars whereby a source of power hitched to said drawbar is moved rearwardly and the outer ends of said ground workingmembers will be drawn forwardly and inwardly, and means for connectingsaid ground working members with said slide bars whereby the outer endsof said implement members are automatically tilted upwardly as said endsmove forwardly.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame mounted on wheels, a drawbar designed to be attached to a source of power, ground working membersarranged diagonally on said machine, and means for opera tivelyconnecting said draw bar-with said ground working members whereby whensaid draw bar is moved rear *ardly by said source of power, the outerends of said ground working members are swung toward the longitudinalcentral axis of the machine.

at. In a device of the class described, a frame mounted on wheels. aslidable draw bar mounted on said frame designed to be connected with asource of power, ground working members diagonally arranged on saiddevice, means for pivotally supporting the inner ends of said groundworking mem bers on said frame, and means for opera tively connectingthe outer ends of said ground working members ,with said draw bar,whereby when the draw bar is moved rearwardly, the outer ends of saidground working members may be swung toward the longitudinal central axisof the machine and also upwardly.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame, supporting wheelstherefor, a draw bar slidably mounted for fore-and-aft move ment on theframe, slide bars mounted for pivotal and sliding movement with theirinner ends connected with said draw bar, bracket members operativelyconnected with said slide bars, a rear central bracket member supportedon said frame, and means for automatically raisin said last bracketmemher when the draw bar member is moved to its rearward position.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame supporting wheelstherefor, a draw bar mounted for fore-and-aft movement on said frame,slide bars mounted between their ends on said frame for pivotal andsliding movement, the inner ends of said slide bars being pivotallyconnected with said draw bar, spaced ground working members having theirinner ends pivotally connected with said frame, means for operativelyconnecting the outer ends of said members with the outer ends of saidslide bars, guide members on said slide bars, and flexible devicessecured to the outer ends of said ground working members and extendedaround said guide members and secured to said frame naeaeas movement,the inner ends of said slide bars i being pivotally connected with saiddraw bar, spaced ground working members having their inner endspivotally connected with said frame, means for operatively connectingthe outer ends of said members with the outer ends of said slide bars,guide members on said slide bars, and flexible devices secured to theouter ends of said ground working members and extended around said guidemembers and se cured to said frame whereby when the draw bar is slidrearwardly said flexible members will be tightened for raising the outerends of said ground working members.

8. Ina device of the class described, a frame, supporting wheelstherefor, a draw bar slid-ably mounted for fore-and-aft movement on theframe, slide bars mounted for pivotal and sliding movement with theirinner ends connected with said draw bar, bracket members operativelyconnected 7 with said slide bars, a rear central bracket membersupported on said frame, means for antomatically raising said lastbracket member whcnthe draw bar member is moved to its rearwardposition, and means for locking said draw bar in various positions ofits sliding movement.

9. In a device of the class described, a frame, supporting wheelstherefor, a draw bar slidably mounted for fore-and-aft movement on theframe, slide bars mounted for pivotal sliding movement with their innerends connected with said draw bar, b acket members operatively connectedwith said slide bars, for drawing the outer ends of said bracket membersforwardly and inwardly in the machine, when the draw bar is movedrearwardly, and means for locking said draw-bar in various positionsofsits sliding movement.

Des Moines, Iowa, March 28, 1917.

ALPHEUS C. BOWEN.

denies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe fiommissioner of Patents,

ashtngton, In. t.

